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You should develop a list of your convictions, write them down and then stick to them – develop them right out of the Bible – if someone else has a personal conviction that you agree with, be sure to carefully consider it before adopting it as your own – the point is that you want to be absolutely sure that your convictions are exactly what you believe [often pastors preach their convictions and the members go along with them but never believe them, so they only keep them till they leave or he leaves] – relate each conviction directly to verses of scripture – and then live by what you believe and never turn away from them under any circumstances and in spite of any pressure that you may be under.

Your convictions could include some of the following. Adopt them and state, I have a conviction that:

I must read my Bible everyday – Matt 4:4 – you need Bible reading like you need food – the best time for me to read is early in the morning.

I must pray everyday – 1 Thes 5:17 – too many Christians have little to no prayer life – the best times for me to pray are early in the morning, in the office with our staff, with our church on Wednesday night and with some of our men on Sunday morning.

I must be in church every Wednesday and Sunday – Heb 10:25 – many churches only have one service each week [they may repeat it 5 or 10 times] – we still need Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services and at special meetings.

I must give regularly and liberally to the Lord – 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 9:6-7 – there’s no need to argue about the tithe – people who love the Lord give to the Lord – we tithe, we give above the tithe, we give to missions each week, and we give special offerings because we have a conviction about these matters.

I must be honest – Eph 4:25 – if you will just tell the truth all the time that will take care of it.

I must keep away from alcohol and drugs – 1 Cor 10:31; Prov 23:29-35, 20:1 – your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and alcohol doesn’t belong where the Holy Ghost resides – anyway, too many of my friends and family members have been messed up or their lives have been cut short because of alcohol.

I must keep my eyes away from pornography, defiling movies and pictures, immodest women [or men, if you are a woman], etc – Ps 101:3; Job 31:1 – there are all kinds of ways to get into trouble with your eyes – by stating that you will protect your eyes from things that will stir up lust in you, you block the thing out before anything ever gets started.

I must not have sex outside of marriage – 1 Cor 7:1-4; 1 Cor 6:18 – this is a much needed conviction today – if you aren’t married yet, keep yourself pure – if you are already married don’t get tripped up by becoming infatuated with someone else.

I must obey the law – 1 Pet 2:13-15 – you should do what the law says unless the law is contrary to God [as in Acts 5:28-29] – so don’t text and drive, don’t speed, pay your taxes, don’t steal and so forth.

I must obey my parents – Eph 6:1-3 – establish this conviction early and live by it till you are no longer under your parents’ authority.

I must do my best in all I do – Ecc 9:10 – apply yourself wholeheartedly to your tasks and don’t stop until you finish your job.

I must stand on unwavering faith against the changing fashions in the world – Jas 4:4; 1 Cor 7:31 – don’t bring down your convictions to the level of the world; influence those around you to raise theirs to the level of the Lord.

And then build this list to cover things on which you want to steadfastly stand – like your opposition to the sins of society and your habits and appetites. These things will help you develop a strong character that won’t change with the changing times. You and others will always know where you stand.

Conclusion: Your convictions don’t become Pharisaical traditions of men, nor to they become a law of works by which you claim to be saved; they represent principles of your character that help to keep you from bending to the whims of men and the pressures of society. They guide you through the perilous temptations of sin and laxity.